Skilled Wages

Plumber salary in Missouri

Median $32.11 an hour for 8,310 plumbers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$32.11/hrMedian hourly wageMissouri, May data
$66,790/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.53 – $56.3410th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,310Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Plumber pay in Missouri: the full range

Wage percentiles, MissouriMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$0$20$40$60/hrMissouri: 10th $21.53 · 25th $24.35 · median $32.11 · 75th $48.19 · 90th $56.34Missouri$32.11$21.53$56.34United States: 10th $21.22 · 25th $24.13 · median $30.67 · 75th $40.92 · 90th $52.13United States$30.67
Hourly wage percentiles for plumbers: Missouri vs United States, May 2025.

Missouri ranks 20th of 51 states for median plumber pay, and 14th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $35.36). 8,310 plumbers work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.6× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.53 – $24.35$44,780 – $50,640roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$24.35 – $48.19$50,640 – $100,240the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$48.19 – $56.34$100,240 – $117,180the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Plumber pay by metro in Missouri

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSt. Louis: $37.02St. Louis$37.02Kansas City: $36.61Kansas City$36.61St. Joseph: $32.83St. Joseph$32.83Cape Girardeau: $31.34Cape Girardeau$31.34Joplin: $30.95Joplin$30.95Springfield: $29.52Springfield$29.52Columbia: $27.89Columbia$27.89Jefferson City: $23.83Jefferson City$23.83
Median hourly wage for plumbers by metro area in Missouri, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
St. Louis$22.61$37.02$38.93$58.294,06015% above
Kansas City$22.50$36.61$39.58$59.053,74014% above
St. Joseph$22.91$32.83$38.00$56.052002% above
Cape Girardeau$19.28$31.34$36.40$50.031202% below
Joplin$20.29$30.95$36.11$48.861804% below
Springfield$21.96$29.52$33.32$50.716608% below
Columbia$17.69$27.89$31.20$46.5931013% below
Jefferson City$20.60$23.83$27.08$48.6629026% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Plumber wages in Missouri over time

Missouri, 1999-2025MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$32.11Missouri$30.67United States
Median hourly wage for plumbers, Missouri vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearMissouri $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$19.66$37.99$17.419,380
2000$21.13$39.50$18.1910,240
2001$22.68$41.23$18.619,350
2002$23.37$41.82$19.318,770
2003$25.26$44.20$19.699,360
2004$25.54$43.53$19.858,910
2005$23.33$38.46$20.279,990
2006$23.92$38.20$20.569,300
2007$25.55$39.67$21.209,570
2008$26.48$39.60$21.949,090
2009$27.52$41.30$22.278,360
2010$25.74$38.00$22.437,370
2011$28.03$40.12$22.967,240
2012$29.20$40.95$23.627,230
2013$30.51$42.16$24.137,010
2014$29.74$40.44$24.367,150
2015$30.59$41.55$24.346,870
2016$29.56$39.65$24.746,350
2017$30.52$40.09$25.286,140
2018$29.97$38.42$25.926,500
2019$30.66$38.61$26.527,590
2020$29.72$36.97$27.087,550
2021$26.23$31.16$28.799,080
2022$29.04$31.95$28.898,610
2023$30.49$32.22$29.597,680
2024$29.85$30.64$30.277,900
2025$32.11$32.11$30.678,310

In today's dollars, the median plumber wage in Missouri changed by -22.7% over the last ten years of data and by -16.8% since 2019.

Are there more plumber jobs in Missouri?

+9.5%Jobs since 20197,590 then, 8,310 in 2025
+21.0%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
2.8Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.9× the US share, 38th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of plumbers counted in Missouri has changed by -11.4%, against +12.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +9.5%.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Missouri vs United States, 1999 = 100MissouriUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages6080100120200020052010201520202025113United States89Missouri
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Missouri vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearMissouri jobsMissouri indexUS index
19999,380100100
200010,240109106
20019,350100106
20028,77094106
20039,360100105
20048,91095103
20059,990106102
20069,30099106
20079,570102105
20089,09097106
20098,3608997
20107,3707987
20117,2407784
20127,2307782
20137,0107585
20147,1507690
20156,8707395
20166,35068100
20176,14066104
20186,50069106
20197,59081107
20207,55080101
20219,08097101
20228,61092104
20237,68082106
20247,90084110
20258,31089113

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for plumbers in Missouri

+1.8%Projected growth in Missouri2024–2034, state agency
640Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
7,720Jobs in 20247,860 projected for 2034
+6.8%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Missouri's labor market agency projects the number of plumbers in the state to change by +1.8% between 2024 and 2034, from 7,720 to 7,860, with about 640 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +6.8% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 8,310 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for plumbers in Missouri

On federally funded construction in Missouri, contractors must pay plumbers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 113 of the 115 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $82.53 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $27.96). 2 of the 115 counties still use a survey rate dated 2010 or earlier (for example Lawrence County at $32.02). The market median for the state is $32.11.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, MOAdair: $76.10 (union)Andrew: $83.67 (union)Atchison: $76.10 (union)Audrain: $74.00 (union)Barry: $83.67 (union)Barton: $83.67 (union)Bates: $83.67 (union)Benton: $83.67 (union)Bollinger: $82.53 (union)Boone: $82.53 (union)Buchanan: $83.67 (union)Butler: $74.00 (union)Caldwell: $83.67 (union)Callaway: $82.53 (union)Camden: $74.00 (union)Cape Girardeau: $82.53 (union)Carroll: $83.67 (union)Carter: $74.00 (union)Cass: $83.67 (union)Cedar: $55.07 (union)Chariton: $74.00 (union)Christian: $82.53 (union)Clark: $76.10 (union)Clay: $83.67 (union)Clinton: $83.67 (union)Cole: $82.53 (union)Cooper: $74.00 (union)Crawford: $80.73 (union)Dade: $83.67 (union)Dallas: $82.53 (union)Daviess: $76.10 (union)DeKalb: $83.67 (union)Dent: $83.67 (union)Douglas: $83.67 (union)Dunklin: $74.00 (union)Franklin: $82.53 (union)Gasconade: $83.67 (union)Gentry: $76.10 (union)Greene: $82.53 (union)Grundy: $76.10 (union)Harrison: $76.10 (union)Henry: $83.67 (union)Hickory: $83.67 (union)Holt: $76.10 (union)Howard: $82.53 (union)Howell: $74.00 (union)Iron: $74.00 (union)Jackson: $83.67 (union)Jasper: $82.53 (union)Jefferson: $82.53 (union)Johnson: $83.67 (union)Knox: $76.10 (union)Laclede: $83.67 (union)Lafayette: $83.67 (union)Lawrence: $32.02 (survey)Lewis: $76.10 (union)Lincoln: $82.53 (union)Linn: $76.10 (union)Livingston: $76.10 (union)McDonald: $82.53 (union)Macon: $76.10 (union)Madison: $74.00 (union)Maries: $83.67 (union)Marion: $76.10 (union)Mercer: $76.10 (union)Miller: $83.67 (union)Mississippi: $74.00 (union)Moniteau: $82.53 (union)Monroe: $76.10 (union)Montgomery: $83.67 (union)Morgan: $83.67 (union)New Madrid: $74.00 (union)Newton: $82.53 (union)Nodaway: $76.10 (union)Oregon: $74.00 (union)Osage: $82.53 (union)Ozark: $83.67 (union)Pemiscot: $74.00 (union)Perry: $74.00 (union)Pettis: $83.67 (union)Phelps: $74.00 (union)Pike: $76.10 (union)Platte: $83.67 (union)Polk: $82.53 (union)Pulaski: $74.00 (union)Putnam: $76.10 (union)Ralls: $74.00 (union)Randolph: $76.10 (union)Ray: $83.67 (union)Reynolds: $74.00 (union)Ripley: $74.00 (union)St. Charles: $82.53 (union)St. Clair: $83.67 (union)Ste. Genevieve: $74.00 (union)St. Francois: $74.00 (union)St. Louis: $82.53 (union)Saline: $76.10 (union)Schuyler: $76.10 (union)Scotland: $76.10 (union)Scott: $23.90 (survey)Shannon: $74.00 (union)Shelby: $76.10 (union)Stoddard: $74.00 (union)Stone: $83.67 (union)Sullivan: $76.10 (union)Taney: $83.67 (union)Texas: $74.00 (union)Vernon: $83.67 (union)Warren: $82.53 (union)Washington: $82.53 (union)Wayne: $74.00 (union)Webster: $82.53 (union)Worth: $76.10 (union)Wright: $55.07 (union)St. Louis: $84.83 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$74.00$76.10$82.53$83.67survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for plumbers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)$0$20$40$60$80$100/hrCallaway (Jefferson City): market median $23.83, prevailing (union) $82.53, gap +$58.70Callaway (Jefferson City)+$58.70Boone (Columbia): market median $27.89, prevailing (union) $82.53, gap +$54.64Boone (Columbia)+$54.64Christian (Springfield): market median $29.52, prevailing (union) $82.53, gap +$53.01Christian (Springfield)+$53.01Jasper (Joplin): market median $30.95, prevailing (union) $82.53, gap +$51.58Jasper (Joplin)+$51.58Bollinger (Cape Girardeau): market median $31.34, prevailing (union) $82.53, gap +$51.19Bollinger (Cape Girardeau)+$51.19Andrew (St. Joseph): market median $32.83, prevailing (union) $83.67, gap +$50.84Andrew (St. Joseph)+$50.84St. Louis (St. Louis): market median $37.02, prevailing (union) $84.83, gap +$47.81St. Louis (St. Louis)+$47.81Bates (Kansas City): market median $36.61, prevailing (union) $83.67, gap +$47.06Bates (Kansas City)+$47.06
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for plumbers, metro counties in Missouri.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
St. LouisUnion PLUM0562-019 2026-07-01$54.60$30.23$84.83MO20260080
AndrewUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260081
BarryUnion PLUM0008-010 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260029
BartonUnion PLUM0008-010 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260029
BatesUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260082
BentonUnion PLUM0008-010 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260029
BuchananUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260081
CaldwellUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260082
CarrollUnion PLUM0008-011 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260007
CassUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260072
ClayUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260082
ClintonUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260073
DadeUnion PLUM0008-012 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260032
DeKalbUnion PLUM0008-021 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260081
DentUnion PLUM0008-013 2025-06-01$58.38$25.29$83.67MO20260033

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Missouri prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Missouri?

163.2kConstruction jobsMissouri, 2026-09
+6.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025163kSep 2026
Construction employment in Missouri (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just plumbers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 91 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 71,820 in 2015 to 91,804 in 2025, +27.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
St. Louis County2865,620$100,096$1,925
St. Louis city541,365$99,493$1,913
Jackson County1933,417$97,528$1,876
Buchanan County37605$92,647$1,782
St. Francois County28447$87,477$1,682
Ray County652$84,153$1,618
Clay County76917$82,348$1,584
Jefferson County82716$81,939$1,576
St. Charles County1291,144$80,080$1,540
Warren County13123$76,928$1,479
Cole County46665$75,472$1,451
Audrain County556$73,063$1,405

Keep comparing

Plumber pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Missouri

More on Missouri

Questions this page answers

How much do plumbers make in Missouri?

The median plumber in Missouri earned $32.11 an hour ($66,790 a year) in May 2025, 5% above the national median of $30.67. The middle half earn $24.35–$48.19; the top 10% earn more than $56.34.

Where does Missouri rank for plumber pay?

Missouri ranks 20th of 51 states for plumber pay, with a median of $32.11 an hour, and 14th after adjusting for Missouri's cost of living (BEA price parity 90.8, US = 100).

What is the union plumber rate in Missouri?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for plumbers in 113 counties, with a typical package of $82.53 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many plumbers work in Missouri?

BLS counted 8,310 plumbers in Missouri in May 2025, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.95; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is plumber work growing in Missouri?

The BLS employer survey count of plumbers in Missouri went from 6,870 in 2015 to 8,310 in 2025, +21.0%, and +9.5% since 2019. Missouri's labor market agency projects +1.8% growth for plumbers between 2024 and 2034, from 7,720 to 7,860 jobs.

How many plumber openings a year are there in Missouri?

Missouri projects about 640 openings a year for plumbers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 42,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Missouri and metro areas, SOC 47-2152. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Missouri labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.